According to a report issued by Master Sgt. Bill Holt, the citizen reported a suspicious motorist traveling west on U.S. 50 two miles east of Penrose. Trooper Ryan Hafner intercepted the suspect vehicle and a K-9 team called to the scene could not find evidence of drugs.

“However, further investigation revealed 11 undocumented Mexican foreign nationals inside the vehicle. The state patrol’s smuggling and trafficking interdiction section arrived and worked with Hafner to take the driver, Dagoberto Avila, 45, of Rosenburg, Texas, into custody.

Avila will likely be charged with 11 counts of human smuggling. He is being held at the Fremont County jail.

The 11 passengers were transported to El Centro De Los Pobres in Avondale by state patrol personnel, Holt said.